Example Items
Environmental
Systems
Environmental System Example Items
are a
representative set of items for the ACP. Teachers may use this set of items
along with the test blueprint as guides to prepare students for the ACP. On
the last page, the correct answer and content SE is listed. The specific part of
an SE that an Example Item measures is not necessarily the only part of the
SE that is assessed on the ACP. None of these Example Items will appear on
the ACP.
Teachers may provide feedback with the form available on the Assessment
website: assessment.dallasisd.org.
First Semester
2016–2017
Code #: 3121
EXAMPLE ITEMS Enviromental Systems, Sem 1
1
Water moves between the atmosphere and the Earth. In this process, water is used and reused
as illustrated.
Water Cycle
What provides the energy that drives the water cycle?
2
A
The Sun
B
The ocean currents
C
The Earth’s heat
D
Precipitation
Legislation in California has established laws to ensure that the construction of new buildings is
sufficient to withstand earthquakes by using earthquake–resistant structures. What made
establishing these new laws practical?
A
Probability
B
Survivors
C
Statistics
D
Technology
Dallas ISD - Example Items
EXAMPLE ITEMS Enviromental Systems, Sem 1
3
4
Which of these accounts for the largest consumptive use of water?
A
Recreation
B
Agriculture
C
Residential
D
Industrial
There are many ways individuals can reduce their energy use inside and outside the home. Which
activity will help conserve nonrenewable energy sources?
A
Using appliances powered by solar energy
B
Using nuclear energy to power homes
C
Producing more materials made from plastic
D
Locating new oil fields
Use the passage to the answer the next two questions.
As a wilderness area, Isle Royale has many dynamic interactions among its natural
resources. Wolves keep moose populations from overgrazing, and beavers provide
dams that in turn increase the aquatic vegetation upon which moose feed. Beavers also
serve as summer food for wolves, and beaver ponds eventually become meadows,
supporting a variety of smaller animals. The red fox eats hares that, left unchecked,
would consume the vegetation that supports the moose that support the wolves.
5
6
Which organisms mentioned in the passage are secondary consumers?
A
Beavers and Hares
B
Red Foxes and Wolves
C
Hares and Moose
D
Wolves and Beavers
If a plant has 15 J of energy, how much energy does a red fox obtain if it ate a hare that ate
such a plant?
A
.15 joules
B
1.5 joules
C
15 joules
D
150 joules
Dallas ISD - Example Items
EXAMPLE ITEMS Enviromental Systems, Sem 1
7
8
9
10
11
If a grassland suffers severe drought as a result of temperature increases and a decrease in
precipitation over a long period of time, which biome does it most closely resemble?
A
Savanna
B
Tundra
C
Desert
D
Deciduous forest
In areas of Africa, ranchers are making more money managing native species of wildlife rather
than raising cattle. Allowing visitors to view the native wildlife is an example of —
A
captive breeding
B
ecotourism
C
artificial selection
D
habitat restoration
A recharge zone replenishes water in a(n) —
A
estuary
B
river
C
water treatment plant
D
aquifer
Nuclear power accounts for about 20% of the total net electricity that is used in the United
States. Nuclear power plants use the energy released when the nucleus of a heavy atom splits
into two lighter nuclei. This process is called —
A
fission
B
fusion
C
radiation
D
acceleration
Which method is an example of conserving a nonrenewable resource?
A
Avoiding the use of mass transit
B
Refusing to participate in a carpool
C
Purchasing a car that gets poor gas mileage
D
Choosing to walk instead of riding in an automobile
Dallas ISD - Example Items
EXAMPLE ITEMS Enviromental Systems, Sem 1
Use the dichotomous key to answer the next two questions.
12
13
1a
Bean round.................................................................... Cicer arietinum
1b
Bean elliptical or oblong ............................................................. Go to 2
2a
Bean white ....................................... Phaseolus vulgaris (Great Northern)
2b
Bean dark pigmented ................................................................. Go to 3
3a
Bean evenly pigmented .............................................................. Go to 4
3b
Bean pigmentation speckled .............................. Phaseolus vulgaris (Pinto)
4a
Bean light pigmented .................................................. Phaseolus lunatus
4b
Bean dark pigmented ..................................... Phaseolus vulgaris (Kidney)
The table shown is most likely used to —
A
identify an unknown organism
B
list the common names of a species
C
identify evolutionary relationships
D
name a new species
Which picture is identified as Phaseolus vulgaris (Pinto)?
A
A
B
B
C
C
D
D
Dallas ISD - Example Items
A
B
C
D
EXAMPLE ITEMS Enviromental Systems, Sem 1
14
15
16
17
18
Which type of heat transfer can travel through space, allowing the Sun to warm the Earth?
A
Conduction
B
Convection
C
Radiation
D
Reflection
Which activity is an example of heat conduction?
A
A turtle sunning itself
B
A boy warming his hands in front of a fire
C
The sun heating the land causing wind
D
A pet snake resting on a warming rock
When wild fires burn trees, the barren soil becomes more susceptible to erosion. This highly
eroded soil gets washed into streams where it kills aquatic organisms. Which of Earth’s spheres
are involved in the interactions?
A
Biosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere
B
Lithosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere
C
Hydrosphere, stratosphere, and biosphere
D
Troposphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere
To increase fertility and production, farmers —
A
strip the land of vegetation before plowing
B
monocrop year after year
C
plow in the direction of the slope
D
rotate a variety of crops
Which example describes a resource being used in a sustainable way?
A
Farmlands located in arid areas that constantly rely on irrigation
B
Rangelands that provide a single water source for cattle
C
Parks and preserves where the number of visitors allowed is limited
D
Forestlands where timber is collected without employing reforestation
Dallas ISD - Example Items
EXAMPLE ITEMS Enviromental Systems, Sem 1
Use the diagram to answer the next question.
19
The diagram shows the steps in surface mining and land reclamation. Which number illustrates
final habitat restoration?
A
1
B
8
C
9
D
11
Dallas ISD - Example Items
EXAMPLE ITEMS Enviromental Systems, Sem 1
20
Which statement describes the waste management method known as source reduction?
A
Taking materials to a facility for the processing and creation of new ones.
B
Using food scraps and yard waste to create humus that can enrich the soil.
C
Buying products that can be used repeatedly instead of disposable ones.
D
Burning waste in a facility, thus decreasing the amount of waste that goes into landfills.
Use the table to answer the next question.
Renewable Energy Source
21
Advantage
Consequence
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectric dams last
longer than fossil fuel
powered dams and are
cheaper to operate.
The dam can change a
river’s floor, affecting
animals living downstream.
Wind
Land used to collect wind
energy can also be used for
other purposes.
The cost of wind turbines
continues to increase.
Solar
Solar energy cannot be used
indirectly to generate
electricity
Solar cells produce a very
small amount of electrical
current.
Biomass
Biomass can be used as an
energy source in developing
countries.
Biomass resources are often
nonrenewable.
Which renewable energy source is correctly paired with an advantage and consequence?
A
Hydroelectricity
B
Wind
C
Solar
D
Biomass
Dallas ISD - Example Items
EXAMPLE ITEMS Enviromental Systems, Sem 1
?
Answer
SE
Process Skills
?
Answer
SE
Process Skills
1
1 A
4C
2I
12
12 A
4A
2K
2
2 D
9I
--
13
13 D
4A
2K
3
3 B
5B
--
14
14 C
6C
--
4
4 A
5C
--
15
15 D
6C
--
5
5 B
6E
--
16
16 A
6A
--
6
6 A
6E
--
17
17 D
5A
--
7
7 C
4D
--
18
18 C
5A
--
8
8 B
9E
--
19
19 D
9E
2I
9
9 D
5B
--
20
20 C
5F
--
10
10 A
6B
--
21
21 A
6B
2I
11
11 D
5C
--
Dallas ISD - Example Items